Rail-joint



(No Model.)

G. D..-OLAPLIN, Jr.

RAIL JOINT.

Patented May 26, 1896.

m can: H.GRAMAM.PHUTOLITHO.WASHINGTON-RC UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE D. CLAFLIN, JR., OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN RAIL JOINT AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,971, dated May 26, 1896.

Application filed December 20, 1895. Serial No. 572,818. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.- members of the rail-joint, and R R the ends Be it known that I, GEORGE D. OLAFLIN, of the rails to be connected thereby. The J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at members A and B are, except in certain par- Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of ticulars which will presently appear, dupli- 55 5 Ohio, have invented certain new and useful cates of each other. The member A, I shall Improvements in Rail-Joints; andIdo hereby call the fixed member and the part B the declare the following to be a full, clear, and movable member, because the first is not, exact description of the invention, such as and the latter is, moved longitudinally after will enable others skilled in the art to. which said parts are engaged with each other with 60 -19 it appertains to make and use the same. the rails between them. Each member has a My invention relates to improvements in horizontal base 1, upon which the rails rest. the class of rail-joints which are shown in Near theinner edges of these bases are formed Letters Patent No. 506,899 and No. 527,926, oblique tongues 1 1 and grooves 52 2 which granted to G. A. Bartholomew. engage with each other substantially as shown 6 5 z 5 The rail joint shown and described in the and described in the prior patents named, first patent named has been found by expewhereby as the partB is moved longitudinally rience to be somewhat objectionable because it is drawn toward the other part, A. Both it does not afford sufficient support for the tongues are undercut, so that they will interballs of the rails, because it is not strong lock in such manner that the members can- 70 2o enough for all places in which it is used, and not be separated, even when they do not embecause the formation in the rail-flanges of the brace the rails, except by their relative lonpeculiar-shaped notches described involves gitudinal movement. This makes a better some unnecessary expense. The rail-joint and firmer joint than that shown in the other shown and described in the other patent is obpatents named. 7 5 2.5 jectionable because the body parts of the The bases 1 may extend laterally, forming joint members are intended to lie against the the flanges 2, by means of which the joint webs of the rail, and when they do this they members may be secured to the ties. Each afford practically no support for the balls of member has a bodypart 3, which extends over the rails unless they happen to exactly fit into and rests upon the flange r of the rail and 8o 30 the space bounded by the balls, webs, and then upward, its upper edge engaging the unflanges of the rails to be joined-a condition der side of the ball 4" of said rail. which rarely happens in practical use. On the upper edge of the body part of each The object of my invention is to provide a joint member is formed an outwardly-extendconstruction for rail-joints which will be ing longitudinal flange 5. The upper surface 8 5 3 5 stronger than any heretofore made, which of said flange has substantially the same inwill present a comparatively large surface, clination as the under side of the ball of the which will be in contact with the under side rail with which it is intended to come in 0011- of the ball of the rail, and consequently act tact. more effectually as a support therefor. Vertical strengthening-ribs4 are formed on 0 40 In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective the outside of the body part and they extend view of my improved rail-joint in position to down to the flange 2. Their upper ends join connect the two rails shown. Fig. 2 is a plan with and support the longitudinal flange 5. view of the two joint members before they Oblique strengthening-ribs 6 are also formed are connected together. Fig. 3 is a horizonon the outside of said body. Their upper ends 5 5 tal sectional view of the fixed member on line join with the flange 5 and one rib 4 and they 8 3 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section extend therefrom diagonally, theirlower ends of the fixed member on line 4.- 4 of Fig. 2. joining with the lower ends of the ribs 4. on The invention consists in the construction both sides of said ribs. These oblique and combination of parts hereinafter destrengthening-ribs act as trusses and not only I00 50 scribed and claimed. strengthen the body part, but uphold and In the drawings, A and B represent the two strengthen the longitudinal flanges,while said longitudinal flanges furnish a broad and firm support for the ball of the rail, or, in streetcar rails, for the ball on one side and the flange on the other side of the web.

On the inner face of the body part 3 of the fixed member, at the ends thereof, and at the level of the baseflange of the rail are the ribs 8, which join the base 1 at their lower ends. These ribs may be of any suitable shape, and they are intended to enter corresponding notches in the edge of the rails for the purpose of preventing relative longitudinal movement of the rails and joint member. These ribs also strengthen the joint member at what would be otherwise a weak point.

lVhen the joint is in use, the flange 5 lies against the under side of the ball of the rail and the lower part of the body rests upon the flange of the rail; but the Vertical part of said body is not intended to touch the web of the rail. \Vith this construction the longitudinal movement of the movable member B causes the body part of both members to be tightly wedged between the ball and flanges of the rail, where they act as struts which support said ball.

Having described my invention, 1 claim- 1. In a rail-joint, the combination of fixed and movable joint members, each having a base upon which the rails to be connected rest,

a body part adapted to extend over and onto the rail-flanges and then up to the balls of the rails, a longitudinal flange on the upper edge of said body which is adapted to engage beneath the balls of said rails, transverse external ribs and diagonal truss-ribs, joining said flanges at their upper ends, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination of lined and movable members, each having a base upon which the rails to be connected rest, a body part which is adapted to extend over and onto the rail-flanges and then upward, a longitudinal flange upon its upper edge which is adapted to engage beneath the balls of the rails, aplurality of vertical ribs formed on the outer surface of said body part and connected at their upper ends with said flange, and diagonal external ribs connected at theirupper ends to said flange and the upper end of one Vertical rib, and at their lower ends to the lower end of vertical ribs on both sides of the said rib, substantially as and for the Purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I af'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE l). CLAFLIN, J n.

\Vitnesses:

E. L. Tnuns'ron, L. F. GRIswoLn. 

